WILDLY FREE ELDER
The Artistry of Aging
Category: Artistry of Aging
DAY 17: I Was Created For Joy…
“Many of us are finding it extremely challenging to keep on with our lives amidst the constant barrage of virus updates, global warming weather disasters and political unrest. Our busy minds and heavy hearts take us away from why we are here. So I ask today where do we wish to place our attention? “
DAY 15: A Shift In Perspective
“Our perspective toward life can be our final and ultimate freedom – a way of looking at life in a more operational way versus a defining way. This perspective is often based on limited self-interest and self- awareness – but when we open up our lens to a wide angle view more possibilities reveal themselves.”
DAY 13: Uber Elders
“As we increasingly rely on technology to problem solve, conceptual designer Barbara Beskind is a testament to the power of personal input. Using her experience as an occupational therapist, Barbara, then aged eighty-nine, instigated the role of advisor for aging-related projects for the international design firm, IDEO. Inventive, practical, playful and always human-centered, Barbara and her can-do spirit set the stage for an exploration of design values that honor, respect and expand our understanding of ourselves and others.”
DAY 11: Simple Human Kindness
“These are all simple events that happened in moments in time during a very short walk. Reminding me that there is always opportunity for simple human kindness and connection – giving or receiving – no matter where we are or what we are engaged in…….or even how we are feeling in any given moment. A matter of where we choose to place our attention?”
DAY 9: Sweet Surrender
“Who doesn’t like chocolate? Well, I know you are out there, but I am not one of you! I am taking a bit of a writing break today and instead sharing with you the joy of dark chocolate….and not by itself mind you, but paired with pomegranate. The perfect, and very simple to make, complete and absolute joy for chocolate lovers everywhere.”
DAY 6: Rest & Solitude
“Placing attention on the present moment is a practice we seem to be more adept at as we age, yet still get frantically captured in mainstream madness and old life force depleting patterns of “doing” and “wanting to belong. It is when we finally come to rest in the solitude of our own making that we are still enough to breathe fully.”
DAY 5: The Joy of Connection
“Homespun, simple, probably only entertaining to locals that populate this small southern town in Western N. Carolina. But for most it brings back memories of our youth and how exciting it was to be a part of a parade or even an observer with our families. Beyond that it was also a celebration of coming together after such a challenging two years of pandemic restrictions.”
DAY 4: Playful Offering
“Reminders and encouragement to play are all around us. It is left to us to take advantage of the moments and not hold back. Those very moments of free form improvisation with others, or even alone, shifts attention from old stale patterns of being to living joyously from our hearts and creative souls. Watch children!”
DAY 2: Whimsy & Humor
“Laughter is such an important healing force for me, and for most humans I would say. It takes us out of our daily humdrum, and at times challenging lives, and allows us to lighten up and see the extraordinary in the ordinary. It also brings us closer together – to ourselves and to others. And it stimulates the feel good chemicals in our body!”